Typewriting machine



July 7, 1931. a. M. SCHERER TYPEWRITING MACHINE Filed Nov. 8, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR as fidfiarZMSc/wm7 MM Hf-2 ATTORNEYS July 7, 1931. G. M. SCHERER I TYPEWRITING MACHINE Filed Nov. 8, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet '2 ATTORN EYS.

Patented July 7, 1931 UNITED. STATES PATENT? OFFICE GILBERT M. SCHERER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y ASSIGNOR TO ROYAL TYPEWRITEB COI- EANY, INQ, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK TYPEWBITING Application filed November 8, ,1928. Serial No. 818,027.

This invention relates to a carriage mechanism for typewriting machines generally and for machines of analogous arts, an more particularly the invention is directed to a means for supporting one rail for longitudinal movement relative to the other rail With-a minimum amount of resistance, and

- in a manner to insure stability to the movement of the movable rail.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the lower or relativel fixed rail of a typewriter carria e emb ying my invention.

igure 2 is a rear elevation showing the upper and lower rails of the carnage and the vertically adjustable clamps connecting the same.

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of one of the yokes shown in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is an end elevation of the yoke shown in Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a perspective new of a mOd1-' lied form of yoke showing the application of a single ball and ball pinion 0r gear and a sin 1e roller. 7

igure 6 is a perspective v1ew s1m1lar to Figure 1 but showing a modified construction of the yoke and the means for supportlng the rollers.

Figure 7 is an enlarged cross sectional view through the upper and lower carriage rails, showing the application of the modified form shown in Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a top plan view of the yoke shown in Figure 6.

Figure 9 is a front elevation of said yoke.

Figure 10 is an end elevation thereof.

Figure 11 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 1111 of Figure 2, and

Figure 12 is a detailed sectional view similar to Figure 7 showing the modified yoke of Fi re 3.

. Re erring to the accompanying drawings with particular reference to Figures 1 to 4, I have shown the upper and lower rails 1 and 2 respectively of a typewriter carriage, the lower rail being relatively fixed and the upper rail being mounted on the lower rail for longitudinal movement relative thereto. The lower rail is supported on the machine in any desiredmanner but preferably I support the same on the shift frame standards d 3--3. The movable rail 1 is provided adjacent its rear edge with a dependin toothed rack 4 and the fixed rail 2 is provi ed adj acent its front edge with an upstanding toothed rack 5. Between the racks 4 and 5 the rails 1 and 2 are formed with complemental races or bearing surfaces 6 and 7 respectively. A plurality of pairs of antifriction balls 88 are located within the raceway for direct contact with both rails. A gear or pinion 9 is freely fitted aroundone of the balls 8 of each pair and this pinion engages both racks 4 and 5, the balls being first maintained in proper relative position with respect to each other during the travel of the carriage.

In order to retain the upper rail 1 against upward movement, I have provided a clamp 10. This clamp is fixedly, although adjustably connected to the rear face of the movable rail 1. The clamp which is plate-like in construction, depends from the upper rail so as to extend under and beyond the lower or fixed rail 2, the lower end of the clamp being bent inwardly to form a horizontally disposed terminal bearing portion 11 arranged under the rear edge of the lower rail 2. Disposed between the under face of the lower rail 2 and the terminal portion 11 of the clamp is ananti-friction roller 12. The clamp 10 is connected to the movable rail 1 for vertical adjustments relative thereto. This connection includes one or more slots 13, having their major axes inclined to the horizontal. A set screw 14 is associated with each slot 13 and is passed through the slot and has threaded engagement with the upper or movable rail 1. The shank of the screw includes a shoulder which directly'engages the inclined walls of the slot 13 as shown in Figure 11. By reason of the slots being inclined and the screws engaging the walls of the slotsfI have provided a construction which will permit of vertical adjustment of the clamp relative to the supporting or movable rail 1, and at the same time this inclined slot and screw connection will function to retain the parts I against displacement due to vertical jars or strains. In other words, if the major axes of the slots were vertically disposed, any undue vertical jars or strains would tend to displace the parts but by inclining the slots and aving the screws contact with the inclined walls of the slots this tendency is substantially eliminated. It will be understood that I may employ a single clamping plate 10 for the rails or I may employ two or more as shown in Figure 2.

It is desirable to move the roller 12 and the associated anti-friction ball 8 in unison during the carriage travel and therefore I have provided a connection between said roller and ball which will insure such travel. To this end I have provided for each pair of anti-friction balls 8 and the associated roller 12, a yoke 15, as shown in Figures 1, 3, 4, and 12. The yoke 15 is formed of sheet metal and comprises a horizontal portion 16 having spaced openings 17-17 formed therein for freely receiving the anti-friction balls 8-8. The horizontal portion 16 is provided along its rear edge with a downwardly extending flange 18 terminating in spaced ears 19-19 between which the roller 12 is positioned and to which said roller is journaled. In this form the roller 12 is located intermediate the anti-friction balls 8-8, but, of course, in a lower plane than said balls.

Instead of employing a yoke for connecting two anti-friction balls 8--8, I may prefer to employ a yoke 20 as shown in Figure 5 for a single ball only. This yoke 20, however, is provided with a roller 21 similar to the roller 12.

In the form illustrated in Figures 6 to 10, inclusive, I have provided spaced yokes 22-22 which are rigidly connected by a narrow arm 23. It is, of course, obvious that the yokes 22-22 and the arm 23 may be formed separately and rigidly connected, but I prefer to construct the yokes and arm by a punching operation from a single piece of stock. In this form each yoke 22 is provided with an opening 24 for receiving an antifriction ball 8, and I preferably employ a gear or pinion 9 with one of the balls only. Each yoke is provided along its rear edge with a depending flange 25 which terminates at its lower end in an inwardly extending roller hearing or guide 26. J ournaled in the hearings or guides 26 is a connecting rod 27. Each end of the rod is provided with an enlarged head 28 having a fork 29 at its outer end. J ournaled in each fork 29 is a roller 30 which engages the under face of the lower rail 2 and the terminal portion 11 of the clamp 10 as shown in Figure 7.

From the foregoing it will be observed that I have provided a pair of rails which are movably mounted one on the other for relative longitudinally movements, a clamp fixed to one of the rails and having a portion which extends under the other rail, a roller interposed between the other rail and the ex tending under portion of the clamp, means for movablv supporting the rollers on said other rail for longitudinal movements relative thereto, pinion controlled ball bearings and means whereby the roller travels in unison with and at the same speed as the ball and pinion, and also means for securing the clamp in a vertically adjusted position and in a manner to insure the clamp and the associated parts from becoming displaced incident to any jars or strains.

It will be also observed in connection with the form shown in Figure 6, that the rack extends only one-half the length of the lower rail. The upper rail which is adapted for association therewith, will be likewise provided with a one-half length rack. It will be understood that one-half length racks will be of sufficient length because the yokes 22, 22 are connected by the arm 23, and the single pinion 9 and ball 8 travel only one half the length of the rail although the carriage travels the. entire length thereof.

It is obvious that changes may be made in the precise form and arrangement of the parts without in any way departing from the spirit of the invention which is to be regarded as limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a carriage mechanism for typewriting machines or the like, a pair of rails movably mounted one on the other for relative longitudinal movements, an anti-friction ball disposed between and engaging said rails, racks connected to the respective rails and arranged on opposite sides of the anti-friction ball, a gear surrounding the ball and engaging said racks, a clamp fixed to one rail and having a portion extending under the other rail, a roller interposed between said other rail and the extending under portion of the clamp, and a yoke connecting the antifriction ball and the roller whereby the entirety is movable as a unit longitudinally of 7 said other rail.

2. In a carriage mechanism for typewriting machines or the like, a fixed rail, :1 movable rail mounted on the fixed rail for longitudinal movements relative thereto, an antifriction ball disposed between and engaging said rails, racks connected to the respective rails and arranged on opposite sides of the anti-friction ball, a gear surrounding the ball and engaging the racks, a clamp fixed to the movable rail and having a terminal portion extending under the fixed rail, a roller interposed between the fixed 'railand the terminal'portion of the clamp, and a yoke connecting the ant-i-fri'ctionball' 'androlle'r whereby the entirety is movable as a unit longitudinally of the fixed rail.

3. In a carriage mechanism for typewriting machines or the like, a pair of rails movclamp adjustably connected to the movable rail and having a terminal portion extending under the fixed rails, said adjustable connection including an inclined slot formed in the clamp and a screw passing through the slot 7 and engaging the movable rail, the screw contactinlg with the inclined walls of the slot.

5. n a carriage mechanism for typewriting machines or the like, a pair of rails mov-.

ably mounted one on the other for relative longitudinal movements, a clamp adjustably connected to one rail and having a portion extending under the other rail, said adjustable connection includin an inclined slot formed in the clamp and a screw passing through the slot and engaging the associated rail, the screw contacting with the inclined walls of the slot, and a roller interposed be"- tween the other rail and the extending under portion of the clamp.

6. In a carriage mechanism for typewriting machines or the like, a fixed rail, a movable rail mounted on the fixed rail for longitudinal movements relative thereto, a clamp adjustably connected to the movable rail and having a terminal portion extending under the fixed rail, said adjustable connection including an inclined slot formed in the clamp and a screw passing through the slot and enagin said movable rail, thescrew contactmg with the inclined walls of the slot, and a roller interposed between the fixed rail and the terminal portion of the clam 7. In a carriage mechanism or typewriting machines or the like, a fixed rail, a movable rail mounted on the fixed rail for longitudinal movements relative thereto, an antifriction ball disposed between and engaging said rails, racks connected to the respective rails and arranged on opposite sides of the anti-friction ball, a gear surrounding the ball and engaging the racks, a clamp adjustably connected to the movable rail and having a terminal portion extending under the fixed rail, said adjustable connection including an inclined slot formed in the clamp and a screw passing through the slot and engagvscribed my name.-

whereby the entiret is movable as a unit longitudinally of the xed rail.

8. In a carriage mechanism for typewriting machines or the like, a pair of rails movably mounted one on the other for relative necting rod journaled in said guides and having pivotal connection with said rollers.

9. In a carriage mechanism for typewriting machines or the like, a pair of rails movably mounted one on the other for relative longitudinal movements, the under face of the lower rail being flat, the opposed faces of the rails being provided with complemental raceways, an antifriction ball disposed in said raceways, a clamp fixed to the upper rail and having a portion extending under the lower rail, a roller interposed between the fiat under surface of the lower rail and the extending-under portion of the clamp, and means connecting the antifriction ball and the roller for bodily movements as a unit longitudinally of said lower rail.

10. In a carriage mechanism for typewriting machines of the like, a pair of rails movably mounted one on the other for relative longitudinal movements, the under face of the lower rail being fiat, the opposed faces of the rails being provided with complemental raceways, an antifriction ball disposed in said raceways, racks connected to the re-' spective rails and arranged on opposite sides of the complemental raceways, a gear surrounding the ball and engaging said racks, a clamp fixed to the upper rail andhaving a portion extending under the lower rail, a roller interposed between the flat under surface of the lower rail and the extendingunder portion of the clamp, and means conmeeting the antifriction ball and the roller for bodily movements as a unit longitudinally of said lower rail.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto sub- GILBERT M. SCHERER.

ing said movable rail, thescrew contacting- 'With the inclined walls of the slot, a roller interposed between the fixed rails and the terminal portion of the clamp, and a yoke connecting the anti-friction ball and roller 

